ELAVALUKAM (Seed)
Elavalukam consists of dried mature seed of Prunus avium Linn.f. (Fam. Rosacem), a tree cultivated in Kashmir and lower Himalayas of Uttar Pradesh and W. Bengal; seeds available in the market are enclosed in hard woody endocarp.
SYNONYMS
Sanskrit : Aileyah, Elavaluh, Elukakhyah
Assamese : —
Bengali : Elavaaluka
English : Sweet Cherry
Gujrati : —
Hindi : Aaluvaalu, Gilaas, Krusabala
Kannada : —
Kashmiri : —
Malayalam : —
Marathi : —
Oriya : —
Punjabi : Aaluvaalu
Tamil : —
Telugu : Jeevakamu
Urdu : —
DESCRIPTION
a) Macroscopic
Brown kernel, ovoid, with pointed apical end and blunt opposite end, with ridges on the surface, measuring 0.8 to 1 cm in length, weighing about 300 mg each; similar to a tiny almond kernel, having same taste and smell.
b) Microscopic
Seed – T.S. of seed shows the outermost uneven layer of stone cells interrupted by longitudinally running spirally thickened vascular element; stone cells oval to circular, thick walled, pitted, pit canal clear, lumen narrow (distinction from stone cell of P. amygdalus, where stone cells are squarish, with large lumen, showing pit occasionally and from stone cell of P. domestica, where stone cells are very thick walled, closely striated with small or obliterated lumen); size varies greatly; stone cell layer intermingled with very conspicucous pigment layer which contains hexagonal cells in surface view with well marked pits on the walls followed by 2 or 3 layers of disintegrated cells; thick, brown inner epidermal layer covers the parenchymatous cells of cotyledon which are angular, thick walled, completely filled with protein granules and oil globules; provasculature can be seen in the cotyledon.
Powder – White, oily with brown pieces of seed coat, stone cells oval to circular thick walled with pit canals, spirally thickened vascular elements, parenchymatous cells containing oil and protein granules.
IDENTITY, PURITY AND STRENGTH
Foreign matter Not more than 2 per cent, Appendix 2.2.2.
Total Ash Not more than 3 per cent, Appendix 2.2.3.
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.1 per cent, Appendix 2.2.4.
Alcohol-soluble extractive Not less than 14 per cent, Appendix 2.2.6.
Water-soluble extractive Not less than 16 per cent, Appendix 2.2.7.
T.L.C.
T.L.C. of the alcoholic extract of the drug on silica gel ‘G’ plate (0.2 mm thick) using toluene : dichlora methane : ethanol : formic acid (10:5:3:1) as mobile phase shows seven bands on exposure to Iodine vapour at Rf. 017 (dark brown), 0.30, 0.46, 0.60. 0.67, 0.71, 0.77 (all light brown). On spraying with 5% Ethanolic sulphuric acid reagent and heating the plate for 10 minutes at 105oC eight bands appear at Rf. 0.17, 0.30 (both dark brown), 0.46, 0.52, 0.58, 0.67, 0.71, 0.77 (all light brown).
CONSTITUENTS – Prunasin (D-mandelonitrile-β-glucoside), Quercetin-3-0- rutinosyl-7, 3-0-biglucoside, Kmmpferol-3-0-rutinosyl-4′-di-0- glucosideand 6-ethoxykmmpferol.
PROPERTIES AND ACTION
Rasa : Kasaya
Guna : Laghu, Ruksa
Virya : Sita
Vipaka : Katu
Karma : Kaphahara, Visaghna., Yonidosahara, Varnya, Stambhana, Sukrasodhaka, Vedanasthapana
IMPORTANT FORMULATIONS – Asvagandha Taila
THERAPEUTIC USES – Arsa, Aruci, Daha, Jvara, Kasa, Kandu, Kustha, Pandu, Raktapitta, Trsna, Unmada, Vrana, Chardi, Hrdroga, Krniroga, Mukharoga, Medroga
DOSE – 3 – 6 g.
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